Monthly Archives: May 2015

Rockford, Illinois leads the State of Illinois in population decline. See http://newsroom.niu.edu/2015/05/26/illinois-population-shifts/ The State of Illinois leads the nation in population decline. To make matters even worse, the majority of the loss is attributable to people moving to neighboring states such as Indiana, Wisconsin, and Missouri. If they all were going to Florida, you could at least understand that they like Florida winters better than winters in Illinois! Illinois is a leader in one category – real estate taxes. It is a close second to New Jersey which has the highest real estate taxes in the country. See http://wallethub.com/edu/states-with-the-highest-and-lowest-property-taxes/11585/ I have faith in Illinois – it will soon overtake New Jersey!

Mayor Gitz in his weekly column in the Journal Standardtalks about improving the community by tearing down buildings in the City’s 3rdward. The Mayor and 1stWard Alderman, Tom Klemm, have forgotten that there are also other Wards in the City of Freeport. Unfortunately, people in the rest of community accept the Mayor’s policy of benign neglect which is simply stated as follows – Let the rest of the city rot while most of the City’s resources are directed to the downtown and the 3rdWard. People in the rest of the City don’t complain – they just sell their homes and leave. This is a sad commentary on the City of Freeport, but it is true.

This guy George Stephanopoulos has more nerve than enough. There he is on the Sunday ABC show,This Week, commenting on his buddy, Hilary Clinton, like he is some impartial commentator. I guess giving the Clinton Foundation $75,000 does not count. He acts like he just bought a box of Girl Scout Cookies from the girl next door. Let’s face it. If this man were a conservator commentator, he would be back in Minnesota doing commentary on junior hockey games. Wait I’m sorry. They take their hockey seriously in Minnesota and this man has no credibility.

Freeport has five new council members andon Monday nightthey got beat down by the Mayor and Alderman Klemm. Only Andrew Chesney understood the real issue facing the Council. It was a question of power, and the Mayor and Klemm said to them – To Hell with you. Klemm lectured the new alderman in condescending manner. Basically, Klemm told them – you are stupid – you just don’t understand. Alderman McClanathan responded and capitulated. We need leaders and Andrew Chesney cannot do it alone. Someone should tell Klemm that he should worry a little less about training kitchens downtown, and start addressing the deteriorating conditions in his own 1stWard. Oh well, I guess that is too much to expect from the man who thinks he is Mayor.